02644 - Organisation Theory

Course contents

The goals of the course are the following:

-         To introduce students to organization theory, without the mediation of summarizing texts;

-         To make students aware of the epistemological foundations of organization theory;

-         To excercise students to discuss the developments of the organizational thought, the competing theories, the various disciplinary foundations of the theory

The course proposes a direct approach to the major authors in the organizational discipline, through the reading and the discussion of classic texts, and avoiding synthetic and eclectic presentations.                       

The work of J.D. Thompson, which represents one of the highest moments in the organizational reflection, is used as main reference. From such a privilged point of view, the developments of the organizational thought are reconstructed, from its origin until today, in selected pages from the main streams of literature: organizational action, mechanicistic, functionalist and contingency contributions, subjectivist proposals.

With the fundamental help of the epistemological and theoretical premises, students are invited to discuss and interpret the variety of the substantive contributions that constitute the peculiar patrimony of organizational theory.

Readings/Bibliography

- J.D. Thompson, L'azione organizzativa, Utet, Torino 1990 (or later reprints).

- Excerpts of books and articles. The list will be available during the course at the Secretary Office of the Department of Managemnt Sciences (Dipartimento di ScienzeAziendali)

 

Teaching methods

The course implies a studying method that students are required to adopt.

Assigned texts are required to be studied before (not after) the classes, according to the indications provided by the professor, in order to allow an active teaching methodology. This requires students to have all the assigned texts at the beginning of the course.

Assessment methods

The learning process is progressively assessed during the course, in relation to the active participation of the student to the class discussions. At the end of the course the overall assessment is formalized. For this reason, an active and continuous attendance of classes is required.

Office hours

See the website of Bruno Maggi